Gold Coast police to wear body cameras after brutality footage

Queensland police minister Jo-Ann Miller has announced a review into Gold Coast police practices and the roll-out of compulsory body cameras after video emerged showing an officer punching a 21-year-old man outside a nightclub.

The officer, who has since resigned, struck Brayden Aaron Mechen outside the Surfers Paradise nightclub. Police have since dropped all charged against Mr Mechen.

It was alleged that Mr Mechen had spat at the policeman, which prompted Police Union president Ian Leavers to defend the use of excessive force in such situations.

"You spit in my face, you may very well get a punch in the face," Mr Leavers said at a press conference.

“It is a very degrading act, and it is one of those things, it can become an instant reaction, and we are humans,” he said.

Ms Miller described policing on the Gold coast as "difficult and dangerous" but said it was important investigations were undertaken.

She revealed frontline Gold Coast officers would now be first in line to get body-worn cameras, and police will ramp up community engagement initiatives in the region.

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"There's 1.5 million interactions between the Queensland Police Service officers and Gold Coast residents and tourists on the Gold Coast strip (per year), so I think it's important that we put this in perspective," she said.

But the latest footage causing concern is one of several videos to emerge recently which have shown Gold Coast police officers going too far.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has previously conceded there has been a spike in "poor behaviour" among Gold Coast officers and said an existing review into police culture should disclose if there is a systemic problem.

The probe is also examining the alleged brutal treatment of 50-year-old youth worker Ray Currier by officers outside a nightclub in January.

Another man, 29-year-old Michael Cox, last month revealed he is seeking $100,000 in damages after police allegedly broke his wrist and slammed his head into the floor at the Surfers Paradise police station in May last year.

The most infamous case surfaced in 2012, when footage was leaked showing Gold Coast police bashing handcuffed chef Noa Begic, 21, in the basement of the Surfers Paradise station.

Sergeant Rick Flori is currently facing a criminal misconduct charge for allegedly leaking the CCTV vision, while the officers caught on camera bashing Mr Bejic were never charged.